9 months

The months are just flying by. I can't believe Wyatt is 9 months old! He's had a few firsts this month. He can pull himself to stand to grab remote controls or take apart train tracks on the train table. Yeah, Jack is really excited about this. I can not take my eyes off of Wyatt for a second when he's down on the floor. He is so determined when he sees something he wants, I know that soon, he's going to be climbing up furniture and then we'll really be in trouble. He can sit up on his own, but he rarely sits still for long. In the last week, he's started to crawl on his hands and knees, but he's faster when he's on his belly and pulling himself forward with his arms. I am sure he'll get the hang of crawling very soon.

He and Jack have been sharing a room for the past month and that's been going really well. Even though Wyatt is not the best sleeper at night, Jack never wakes up when he's crying. He's still not sleeping through the night and usually wakes up around 2ish and then he's up for the day between 5 and 6.

He's a good eater. He loves yogurt and watermelon. Avocado is still his favorite though. He nurses about 4 times during the day. Once when he wakes up in the morning, before each of his two naps, and at bed time.

He's growing so fast and barely fits into his 9 month sized clothes. I wish some one would tell him that there's no rush to grow and get bigger.

This week

Whew...we are having quite the day here. Jack has been in a grumpy mood and the whining has started to hurt my ears a little. It started when I took a bite of one of his waffles this morning. Bad move. He was hysterical for 20 minutes and once he calmed down he didn't even want to eat. So they sat on the table until 10 when he finally said, "Mommy, I'm hungry." Since then, it's been on and off fits of hysterics for no good reason. I was actually hoping to get to the grocery store this afternoon with the two of them, but there was no way I would go on that adventure while Jack was in this sort of mood. That would be a recipe for disaster. He and Wyatt are both napping right now, so I feel like I can exhale. 

Ok. Thanks for listening. My vent is over. 

So, here's what our week looked like according to my phone!

Jumping in the bounce house at a friend's birthday party.

This cup kept him happy for the entire time we were at the party.

These were the best cupcakes I've ever eaten. Pina colada - pineapple cake with coconut cream cheese frosting.
Made by Bonnie.

Helping with the laundry.

Brothers.

Playing at the beach.

Standing, with his toes in the sand.

Jack's first school portrait. (If you're his Grandparent or his Aunt/Uncle, you'll be getting a copy!)

Wyatt pulled himself up to stand for the first time this week! We're in trouble! (this is a pic of the actual first time)

Wyatt and me. 

Sunday in Newport

The weather on Sunday was gorgeous around here, so we decided to spend the day in Newport. Jack had been wanting to fly his kite, so our first stop was Brenton Point State Park where kite flying is a must. 

On the way, we stopped for sandwiches and had a picnic there too. There were lots of people flying kites, but this kite was a show stopper. 

(Taken with instagram)

After lunch, we headed downtown and stopped by the Aquidneck Lobster Company so Jack could check out the lobsters. This place is perfect for kids! We now know that at least for the near future, we don't have to spend money to visit the aquarium. Jack was fascinated by the lobsters and the strange looking fish that shared the tank with them. He was able to get up close and even touch the lobsters. Also, there are amazing views and it looks like a bar will soon be opening about 50 feet from the tanks. So it will be a perfect place for grown-ups too!

Check out this size of that claw! (That's Rob's arm)

Next stop was Ben and Jerry's. Yum. At this point Wyatt was fed up with being in the stroller, so we headed back to the car. On the way home, we stopped at Second Beach. It was Wyatt's first time with his toes in the sand. I was worried that he'd put his sandy hands in his mouth, but he didn't. He didn't even attempt to crawl, he just sat there scooping up fistfuls of sand then emptying his hands out. It was adorable. 

Jack on the other hand, was so excited to be at the beach, it was tough to take a picture of him. Rob managed to get this one of the boys and me.

We survived the drive home, even though Wyatt was screaming, get me out of this car seat! the entire way. It really was a fun day.

Two Week Rewind Brought to you by my Iphone

Dandelion

Jack at Coggeshall Farm.

Coggeshall Farm.

Web.

Diaper change in the park.

Jack picked out his outfit, socks and all.  

Only in Rhode Island.

Wyatt's days of taking baths on the kitchen table are numbered! He's getting too big for  his tub.

Who knew that Dave Matthews had a winery? 

Sweet Wyatt taking a nap in his crib.

Taking a walk by the water in Bristol.

Trying to catch the super moon. It wasn't so super at this point of the night.

A view from our walk in Bristol.

Mimi was reading the comics to Jack and he kept trying to press the word bubbles like he does when he reads on the Ipad!

I took this one by accident. I like it.

Wyatt sitting in a clover patch. (Yes, he can sit up now!)

Chubby legs. <3

Follow me on instagram @stephsnotes

A Peek into the Boys' Shared Room

We finally took the plunge. It was a night that I'd been dreading pretty much since deciding that the boys would share a room back when I was pregnant. We had imagined that we'd wait until Wyatt was sleeping through the night before we moved him from our room. A full night sleep still seems very far away and he is just too big for the co sleeper, so we had to do something.

Wyatt slept for the first time in his crib on Saturday night. We wanted the first night to be on a weekend when we had no plans, just in case we had a rough transition with little sleep. But we've had no problem...we're all getting the same amount of sleep as we were when Wyatt was in our room. He does still wake up twice during the night, but Jack doesn't even seem to notice and sleeps right through the wimpers and cries, and me coming and going from the room. We really talked it up to Jack over the past couple of months, preparing him for Wyatt's move into his room, and he's adjusted so well. He even woke up one morning after Wyatt was up and out of the crib and came to our room crying, so upset that Wyatt wasn't in his bed. I think he's really proud to have his little brother in his room. I know that we are bound to have some rough nights, but I am just so relieved that for now, it's working out. 

I thought this would be a good time to share some pictures I took of the boys' room a few weeks ago. (I love saying, the boys!)

Sources:

Curtains, toddler bed, toddler bedding, chair, bookcase, rugs, under bed storage: Ikea

Dresser: Craigslist, painted BM potpourri green

Crib: Amy Coe, Babies r' us

Bunting, crib skirt, bumper, pillow on chair: Handmade by me

Jack and Wyatt letters: Ebay, The Writing on the Walls

Growth Chart and Quilt: Handmade by my Mom

Rocking Horse: Mine from when I was a child, Handmade by my Grandfather

P.S. We removed the bumper from the crib based on the recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

I am joining the fun at Thrifty Decor Chick where you can see lots of other kids' rooms!

Photo flashback

Rob was going through random folders in iphoto the other day and came across this one from October 2010. Jack looks so tiny and I love how he's concentrating so hard he has his tongue out. I had to share here because it made me smile.

He has grown so much in less than two years. He sure can be challenging lately, but really, he's an awesome kid, despite the fact that NO is his favorite word at the moment.

Giving my phone pictures some life

Since I don't take my big camera everywhere I go, I find myself taking tons of pictures with my iphone. I always have it with me, so taking pictures is easy. (Is it possible to love a phone?) The only problem is that the pictures tend to just live on my phone. Since I use this blog as a place for some of my favorites, I am going to make sure that my favorite phone snapshots get life here too so they don't get lost in picture purgatory.

1. Our very favorite local coffee shop. (The Coffee Depot)

2. Adorable Wyatt

3. My new favorite shoes. Toms. I wear them all. the. time.

4. Jack on his bike.

1. Date night in Providence. 

2. Jack picked this dandelion for me. :)

3. Feeding time.

4. Lunch date with my boys at Friendly's. 

1. Ipad art.

2. Mojito on a gorgeous evening.

3. Blue sky and blossoms

4. More adorable Wyatt.

1. Jack and his puzzle.

2. My college girls who came for a visit last weekend. We had the best time. 

3. Breakfast. 

4. Jack and my boots.

Speaking of iphone pictures, you can find me on instagram!

Follow me there @stephsnotes

My jumping bean

This video has it all! We have Wyatt jumping and a conversation with a very silly Jack, a mommy who calls kids by the wrong name, and if you hang on until the end, a clip of Wyatt saying his first word! I know, how will you handle all of the cuteness? 

8 months

This month was pretty exciting as far as Wyatt firsts go.

He said his first word...Ma ma ma ma. It's pretty much the cutest thing ever.

If he's in the mood, he'll wave back when he's waved at. This is very close to the cutest thing ever.

I finally broke down, after searching craigslist and consignment shops, and bought a new, free standing jumperoo (this one). He absolutely loves it. I should have gotten one months ago once I realized that our doorway jumper was not going to work for us. (Our doorways are so narrow that when he gets going, he bonks his head on the door jam. Not good.) I have an adorable video of the jumping bean that I will post soon.

He's eating three meals a day now and he still can not stand bananas. Avocados are still tops. He's also a big fan of yogurt. A couple of days ago I put a couple of puffs on his tray and without hesitation he picked one up and put it in his mouth. He only has to work on letting go of it once his fingers reach his mouth. He chews it with his three front teeth. (Also, close to the cutest thing ever.) 

He is still taking good naps in the morning and afternoon. At night though, he's been waking up 2 to 3 times and then waking at about six AM to start the day. He is STILL in his little co-sleeper and has yet to sleep in his crib. We are dreading the transition into the boys' shared room since he still wakes up every few hours. I am determined though to make the switch this month. 

He is nursing about 5 times throughout the day and when he wakes up at night. I am still not ready to let him cry at night, simply because feeding him is so easy and we all sleep better for it. 

He's been sick for the past couple of weeks with horrible congestion and cough. He's had no fever and he is still a happy boy despite the sneezing and coughing. The doctor said it's not uncommon for this to last for 3 to 4 weeks. Yuck. When I took him to the Doctor's office, they weighed him...he's up to 18 lbs 12 ounces! 

His little personality is really starting to shine through. He LOVES his big brother. He follows Jack's every move with his eyes and has already started to covet the toys that Jack plays with (to Jack's dismay.) I can see already that we are going to have a little dare devil on our hands as he tries to keep up with Jack. 

I can't wait to see what surprises Wyatt has in store for us this month!